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The Ministry of Education has approved a uniform registration fee of N50,000 for candidates sitting the Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations conducted by the West African Examinations Council and the National Examinations Council, effective from 2027.
The approval will see the NECO SSCE fee rise from N30,000 per candidate to N50,000, while WAEC’s fee will increase from N27,000 to the same amount.
The decision was contained in a memo dated June 18, 2026, signed by Adeniji Ibrahim, the Director of Senior Secondary Education at the Ministry of Education, on behalf of the Minister of Education.
According to the memo, the adjustment followed a meeting on March 31, 2026, between the Minister of Education and examination bodies, during which stakeholders discussed the need to review existing fees in light of prevailing economic realities.
“You may recall that at a meeting of examination bodies held with the Honourable Minister of Education on 31st March, 2026, where the need for upward review of examination fee was discussed, the Honourable Minister of Education directed that the West African Examinations Council and the National Examinations Council should adopt a uniform fee for the conduct of WAEC and NECO SSCE,” the memo read in part.
“Consequently, I am directed to convey the Honourable Minister of Education’s approval of the sum of Fifty Thousand Naira (N50,000) only, as the new examination fee for candidates with effect from NECO SSCE internal 2027.”
The Ministry of Education’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo, confirmed the development on Saturday, saying the approval had been given.
“I can confirm the approval of an upward review of the examination fees. I spoke with the director in charge a few minutes ago and he said the approval was done,” Folashade said.
The increase is expected to place additional financial pressure on several state governments that sponsor candidates for the examinations.
Stakeholders in education have expressed concerns that the new fee could prevent thousands of candidates from registering for the examinations, particularly in states where governments do not subsidise or fully fund SSCE registration.
Currently in Lagos State, the government pays for the registration fees of candidates sitting for the WAEC SSCE, while parents who can afford it pay for their children’s NECO registration.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the increase, describing it as “cruel” and “economically insensitive.”
“A government that genuinely believes in the future of its people does not erect financial barriers between children and education. It removes them,” Atiku said in a statement issued on Sunday.
“Education is not a privilege reserved for the wealthy; it is the birthright of every Nigerian child and the foundation upon which prosperous nations are built.”
The new fee will take effect from the 2027 Senior School Certificate Examination for school candidates conducted by both WAEC and NECO.
